On its opening night FOX Sports 1 chose the UFC. For the sport it was a showcase. Athleticism action unpredictability it was all there on full display highlighted by a stunner of a headliner which saw Chael Sonnen force Mauricio Shogun Rua to tap out to a guillotine choke.
Yes Sonnen the man who had been criticized for his problems with submissions the man who had never beaten a former UFC champion and who had spent most of the last seven years as a middleweight tapped out a Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt and the last man to hold the light heavyweight belt prior to the Jon Jones era.
The official time of the finish came at 4 47 of the first round snapping Sonnen s losing streak at two.
Afterward Sonnen (28 13 1) took the spotlight to call out his longtime target Wanderlei Silva.
Until I met you I never knew they could stack crap that high he said before challenging him to fight in three months.
According to FightMetric Sonnen out struck Rua 58 9 and scored two takedowns. The end though came with Rua digging low for a possible takedown of his own. Instead Sonnen wrapped his neck up with his arms and then jumped guard locking up the choke hold. Rua held off for a few seconds in hopes of escaping but eventually tapped with his right hand.
It was only the fifth submission victory of Sonnen s career. He dedicated the win to his grandmother and others who had fought or were fighting cancer.
Rua (21 8) had only been forced to tap twice previously in his career and only once in the last decade in a 2007 loss to Forrest Griffin. The only other man to pull the trick Renato Babalu Sobral was in his corner for the bout but even his tutelage was not enough. Rua who was considered the world s best 205 pounder before joining the UFC is now 5 6 in the octagon.
There is more than one way to view the Travis Browne Alistair Overeem co main. On one hand Browne broke through to the legitimate contenders list after withstanding an early barrage and knocking out Alistair Overeem. On the other Overeem may have flamed out of the UFC after his second straight knockout loss.
In the early moments it seemed like Overeem was on his way to reestablishing himself. Halfway through the first he corralled Browne against the cage and let his offense fly swarming with right hands to the face and knees to the body. Browne was in big danger but after taking a swarm managed to return to his feet. Within two minutes the fight was over. Browne who had used a kick heavy offense threw a front kick that landed flush and knocked Overeem down.
He followed with ground strikes for the finish at 4 08 of the first round.
He throws knees like I ve never felt before Browne (15 1 1) said afterward. He hit me with a couple body shots too. I was there mentally but my body was shutting down. I heard my corner say move so I got to my feet and moved. I felt him start to slow down and as soon as I did I raised my game.
Overeem s loss came on the heels of his February knockout defeat by Antonio Silva. With two straight disappointing losses a drug scandal behind him and a high salary it s possible he has seen his last days in the octagon.
Meanwhile the career resurgence of welterweight Matt Brown continued with another statement. This time it was Mike Pyle on the wrong end of his onslaught as Brown crushed him in a 29 second knockout.
Brown floored him with a right and then followed with ground strikes for the finish capturing his sixth in a row. Prior to that Pyle (18 11) had been in danger of being cut from the promotion after losing four of five.
It s been a complete and decisive turnaround with five knockouts on his ledger.
Of all the fighters on the card perhaps no one received as much attention as Irish lightweight Conor McGregor a relative newcomer to the scene who had gained momentum so quickly the UFC scheduled him his own media day.
The expectations were massive and though he didn t keep his finish streak intact McGregor dominated Max Holloway en route to a unanimous decision win.
Showing a rangy standup game with a varied repertoire of punches and kicks McGregor controlled the first two rounds bloodying his opponent before spending most of the third on the ground. McGregor (14 2) said he might have hurt his knee but cruised to the win his 10th straight.
In a key bantamweight battle between two top five ranked fighters Michael McDonald battered Brad Pickett scoring two first round knockdowns and then finishing him with a triangle choke in the second. McDonald who was fighting for the first time since losing an in interim title match looked sharp throughout in upping his record to 16 2.
Fellow bantamweight and perpetual contender Urijah Faber also won taking a decision over Iuri Alcantara by scores of 30 26 30 26 30 27. Faber (29 6) said afterward that he thought he broke or dislocated his jaw on the fight s first exchange and was pushed by a sense of urgency. Though he couldn t finish he rode his superior grappling game and ground strikes to the win.
Full Results Chael Sonnen def. Mauricio Shogun Rua via guillotine choke Rd. 1 (4 27) Travis Browne def. Alistair Overeem via knockout Rd. 1 (4 08) Urijah Faber def. Iuri Alcantara via unanimous decision (30 26 30 26 30 27) Matt Brown def. Mike Pyle via knockout Rd. 1 (0 29) John Howard def. Uriah Hall via split decision (30 27 29 28 28 29) Michael Johnson def. Joe Lauzon via unanimous decision (30 27 30 27 30 25) Michael McDonald def. Brad Pickett via triangle choke submission Rd. 2 (3 43) Conor McGregor def. Max Holloway via unanimous decision (30 27 30 27 30 26) Steven Siler def. Mike Brown via knockout Rd. 1 (0 50) Diego Brandao def. Daniel Pineda via unanimous decision (29 28 29 28 29 28) Manny Gamburyan def. Cole Miller via unanimous decision (30 27 29 28 29 28) Ovince St. Preux def. Cody Donovan via knockout Rd. 1 (2 07) James Vick def. Ramsey Nijem via guillotine choke submission Rd. 1 (0 58)
{ 0 comments... Views All / Send Comment! }
Post a Comment